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Silva joins Guardiola in gushing over De Bruyne

Bernardo Silva expects to become a better player as a member of Manchester City’s formidable attack.

The Portugal midfielder has been used sparingly since his £43million summer move from Monaco by manager Pep Guardiola.

But he impressed as he was given a second City start in Wednesday’s emphatic 4-0 win at Feyenoord in the Champions League.

Playing up front alongside Sergio Aguero and Gabriel Jesus, and well serviced by the likes of Kevin De Bruyne and David Silva, Silva helped City run the Dutch champions ragged in their Group F opener.

The 23-year-old said: “It is a pleasure to play alongside these kind of players. I am learning a lot from them and I hope I can learn much more.

“To play alongside Kevin, David Silva and all the players we have in this squad – it is very good to be here and I am feeling better and better.

“It is easy when you play with quality players, intelligent players like them. It is much easier and much better to play alongside great players, some of the best in the world, than lesser quality players.”

Defender John Stones grabbed the headlines with two goals at De Kuip while Aguero and Jesus also got on the scoresheet.

De Bruyne also excelled, delivering another passing masterclass in the deeper midfield role which has suited him so well this term.

Silva said: “His decisions are always good and he is very intelligent on the pitch.

“Intelligent players can play different roles and that is what he does perfectly. When the coach asks him to play on the right side, left side, as defensive midfielder, to construct, to finish, he does everything. It is a pleasure to have him with us.”

Two of City’s star players last season, Leroy Sane and Raheem Sterling, have largely had to make do with substitute roles so far this campaign.

It makes for an embarrassment of riches Silva believes can only bode well.

He said: “We have a lot of quality players, everybody knows it, but also we are playing Champions League, a Premier League that is very competitive and the cups will start soon.

“We have a lot of games. It is good to have a lot of quality players that can play. Some can play one game, some can play another. Everybody responds well and that is great.

“We have never won the Champions League and most of the players in this squad have never won the Premier League, so we want to win big things and together we hope we can get them.”